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BC Community Forests - Overview
With the intention of increasing the participation of communities and First Nations in managing local forests and to create sustainable jobs, the provincial government amended the forest act in 1998 to include a new form of tenure in the form of community forest agreements. These tenure agreements with the provincial government began as Community Forest Pilot Agreements (CFPA) with a five year term after which the tenure is evaluated and successful pilot agreements can make long term agreements between 25-99 years. (Fact Sheets-pdf).
Although the objectives of community forests are specific to each pilot agreement all face the challenges of managing these objectives within the guidelines fo the Forest Practices Act, changes in International wood products markets and cyclical nature of forestry. Objectives such as recreation, job creation, community economic sustainability, education and local resource management are many of the reasons communities pursue greater involvement and management of their local forests.
Ecoforestry and new methods of forest management have become a central theme with many community forests. Since the creation of community forest agreements the interest in ecoforestry has spread quickly and many resources quickly have become available online. Along with these methods of resource management come standards to evaluate what constitutes sustainable lumber products. Although more than one standard exists it is the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) standard which is not only the most rigorous but is also one developed with the participation of local communities.
Not all community forests are managed as working forests. Of the ones who do manage working forests many sell their harvested timber to local manufacturing plants, although some operate secondary manufacturing facilities and log yards that sell to the highest bidder. Examples of this include the Revelstoke Community Forest Corporation.
To read more detailed information on community forests throughout BC and get contact information the Denman Community Forest Cooperative hosts an online Directory of Community Forest Organizations in British Columbia that is invaluable.
For information from the provincial government on woodlot licenses please go to the Woodlot Licenses Section.
Business Directory:
FindBCWood.com's business directory below provides a list of community forests throughout BC.